SEOUL, 5 September (BelTA - Yonhap) - As the scorching summer heat
finally yielded to cool autumn breezes, Seoul transformed into an art
hub with the Wednesday opening of the country's two major fairs: Kiaf
and Frieze.
This year marks the third collaboration between the two fairs, showcasing exceptional works by both established and emerging artists from around the world.
Kiaf, the country's longest-running international art fair since 2002, showcased works from 206 galleries across 21 countries this year in its largest space to date, offering visitors a more comfortable art-viewing experience. The number of new participants totaled 34, including Spain's Albarran Bourdais and the Tehran-based Bavan Gallery.
Although the exhibition space has expanded compared to last year, the organizer noted that they were more selective with participating galleries to reduce the number of exhibitors.
Kiaf also mentioned that the number of galleries applying to participate in the fair increased from the previous year, though they did not specify by how much.
On Wednesday morning, fervent art lovers were spotted waiting for the VIP preview opening outside the fair venue at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in southern Seoul.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon hoped that Kiaf would provide a crucial platform for emerging young Korean artists to promote themselves globally.
"It's a great opportunity for our lesser-known artists to gain international recognition," he said in his congratulatory remarks. "This event showcases to the world that Seoul is an attractive city with the potential to become a major art hub."
For its third edition, Frieze Seoul showcased over 110 major galleries from around the world, offering a global platform to explore contemporary art and highlighting individual artists' unique visions and diverse masterpieces spanning different periods.
One of the most attention-grabbing pieces is a large media artwork displayed on LG Electronics' state-of-the-art transparent OLED screens, which have yet to be commercialized. LG is the headline partner of Frieze Seoul.
Created by Do Ho Suh, the work digitally reinterprets paintings by his late father, Suh Se-ok, a pioneer of abstract ink painting in Korea for over 60 years. The elder Suh's vibrant stick figures in ink are brought to life on eight transparent, self-lit OLED panels, showcasing his masterful use of negative space and powerful brushstrokes.
Also noteworthy is Frieze Live, titled "Nerve or Divine Pathway," a new addition this year featuring five performances by seven artists, exploring how movement, sound and visual elements can enhance poetic expression by turning the human body into a language and making poetry a multisensory experience.
Frieze launched its first Asian fair in Seoul two years ago, marking its fourth global location after London, New York and Los Angeles. The organization partnered with Kiaf, hosted by the Galleries Association of Korea, in a five-year collaboration, to showcase "a shared commitment to celebrating the city's thriving creative community," according to Frieze.
Frieze and Kiaf will run until Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
This year marks the third collaboration between the two fairs, showcasing exceptional works by both established and emerging artists from around the world.
Kiaf, the country's longest-running international art fair since 2002, showcased works from 206 galleries across 21 countries this year in its largest space to date, offering visitors a more comfortable art-viewing experience. The number of new participants totaled 34, including Spain's Albarran Bourdais and the Tehran-based Bavan Gallery.
Although the exhibition space has expanded compared to last year, the organizer noted that they were more selective with participating galleries to reduce the number of exhibitors.
Kiaf also mentioned that the number of galleries applying to participate in the fair increased from the previous year, though they did not specify by how much.
On Wednesday morning, fervent art lovers were spotted waiting for the VIP preview opening outside the fair venue at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in southern Seoul.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon hoped that Kiaf would provide a crucial platform for emerging young Korean artists to promote themselves globally.
"It's a great opportunity for our lesser-known artists to gain international recognition," he said in his congratulatory remarks. "This event showcases to the world that Seoul is an attractive city with the potential to become a major art hub."
For its third edition, Frieze Seoul showcased over 110 major galleries from around the world, offering a global platform to explore contemporary art and highlighting individual artists' unique visions and diverse masterpieces spanning different periods.
One of the most attention-grabbing pieces is a large media artwork displayed on LG Electronics' state-of-the-art transparent OLED screens, which have yet to be commercialized. LG is the headline partner of Frieze Seoul.
Created by Do Ho Suh, the work digitally reinterprets paintings by his late father, Suh Se-ok, a pioneer of abstract ink painting in Korea for over 60 years. The elder Suh's vibrant stick figures in ink are brought to life on eight transparent, self-lit OLED panels, showcasing his masterful use of negative space and powerful brushstrokes.
Also noteworthy is Frieze Live, titled "Nerve or Divine Pathway," a new addition this year featuring five performances by seven artists, exploring how movement, sound and visual elements can enhance poetic expression by turning the human body into a language and making poetry a multisensory experience.
Frieze launched its first Asian fair in Seoul two years ago, marking its fourth global location after London, New York and Los Angeles. The organization partnered with Kiaf, hosted by the Galleries Association of Korea, in a five-year collaboration, to showcase "a shared commitment to celebrating the city's thriving creative community," according to Frieze.
Frieze and Kiaf will run until Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
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